Nervous butterflies settled in my chest as the door shut behind my dad.

Kyren slowly approached me, backing me against a wall. His tall frame towered over me. "House rules. My room is off-limits, the fridge is split 50/50, and if I hear your pom-poms shaking after 11 PM, I'm throwing them off the balcony. Don't think for a second that because your father is my Coach, you're safe from me in here. If anything... it just makes you a more tempting target."

"Rules are overrated. And I'm not one of your teammates." I smirked, pretending not to be shaken by his proximity.

"Just know that for every rule of mine you break, I get to take something from you in return." He said, his eyes dropping to my lips. "Stay out of my way or face the consequences of your actions."

He pulled back from me before entering his room once again. I finally allowed myself to breathe again, as I pushed myself off the wall.

This must be why they call him the Ice King. He's not very... kind. I entered my new bedroom and quietly started getting to work. Within a few hours, I was completely done unpacking.

I tiredly slumped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. I grabbed my phone and found hundreds of notifications popping up on the screen.

Why was everyone bombarding my phone?

A deep frown settled on my forehead as I clicked the message Brie sent, and my phone almost dropped from my hand.

Brie: I saw the video of you and the Ice King last night. You passed the first test. But I want to see him melting. And I want proof.

Proof? What the hell does that even mean? Did she want me to set up cameras while I seduced him?

I tossed my phone aside before burying my face inside a pillow.

The entire campus must know about last night. They must think we have something going on.

If Kyren corrected them. No, if Kyren publicly rejected me... I would become the laughing stock of the school. I mean, he clearly hates my guts. That's why he's been threatening me since last night.

What the hell am I going to do? This could literally ruin my life.

I grabbed my phone again, and this time I dialled Jia's number.

"Hailey? Are you okay? Why haven't you been answering any of my texts?" She asked in a concerned tone.

"I'm not okay, Jia. I'm losing my mind. I need your help, I don't think Kyren likes me. Like at all. And now we live in the same apartment, and he set up all these crazy rules. What do I do, J?"

"What?! Kyren Wolfe, the Ice King, is your new roommate?" She asked in a voice filled with disbelief.

"I know, I'm freaking out," I finally admitted.

"Okay, calm down. Relax. I know exactly what you can do to win him over." She confidently stated.

"Tell me," I said before getting up from my bed.

"Seduce him. No straight man can resist a beautiful woman. Your body is your greatest weapon right now. Think accidental groping. Or leaving the bathroom door open by accident. If he sees you naked, he'll lose his mind."

"But that's the problem, I don't want him to see me naked. Why the hell did nobody warn me about how forward he was? You all acted like he sucked at dating, and he's actually like really good at... he knows how to charm people. If I were somebody else, his cheap tricks might have worked on me." I huffed out in frustration.

"Wait, did something happen between you two after you left the room last night? Did you guys make out?" She curiously questioned.

"No. Absolutely not. This is just a game. I never said that I was going to make out with him or seduce him. Maybe this is going a little too far. I should call off the bet, shouldn't I?"

"And let Brielle win? Hell no." Jia said. "Just put on some lingerie and walk into the kitchen. I believe in you, Hailey. You can do this." She uttered before ending the call in my ear.

I slammed my phone down on my bedside table before nodding to myself. Jia was right, I couldn't let Brielle win this bet. I'd never hear the end of it.

I'll wait until tonight. In the meantime, I need to come up with a plan. I'll go to his room at midnight and tell him, I'm scared. That should work, right?

I binge-watched my favorite show to make the time go by a little faster. By the time I was done with season one, it was midnight.

I jumped off my bed before quickly stripping out of the sweatpants and crop top I had on. I grabbed a lacy black set of lingerie from my closet before pulling it on. I ran my fingers through my hair before letting the dark locks cascade down my back.

I applied some lipstick to my lips before staring at myself in the mirror. This was it. The point of no return. I nervously bit into my bottom lip before pulling my bedroom door open.

I stopped in front of Kyren's room. I didn't knock, I just opened the door and stumbled inside. I found him sitting at the foot of his bed, listening to something through his earphones.

He paused before slowly running his eyes over my half-naked form.

My cheeks warmed under his predatory gaze. I seductively made my way over to him and only stopped once I stood directly in front of him.

As I was about to explain myself, my mind went blank.

"What are you doing, Princess?" He asked, his voice sounding gravelly.

"I was just wondering if you had some sunscreen." I blurted out.

Sunscreen? Why the hell would I ask him for sunscreen?

Kyren slowly rose from his bed. He took his time looking at me. His thumbs hooked into the waistband of my panties, and a soft gasp escaped my lips.

"You walked in here, wearing lingerie, to ask for sunscreen? At midnight?" He let out a dark chuckle.

"You broke the first rule, Princess. That means I get to take something from you. I'll start with this," he said, tugging at my panties, and a needy throb ran straight through my core.

"Kyren, don't," I tried, but it was to no avail.

He roughly pulled at the flimsy material, covering my most intimate part. The sound of lace ripping, echoed through the room. The cold air from the AC bit into my exposed skin.

His hands slid up my back. He unclasped my bra with ease, and it soundlessly dropped to the floor. His gaze raked over my trembling form with a satisfied hunger.

"You're not a cheerleader tonight. You're mine. And I'm going to spend the next few hours showing you exactly what happens when you break my rules." He stated before pushing my legs wide open with his knee.

Kyren pushed my legs open with his knee. He lowered himself until he was knelt in front of me. I shuddered as his breath fanned against my aching heat.

He looked into my eyes, before hooking my leg over his shoulder, forcing my legs wider apart. He pressed his lips into the crease of my hip, leaving a stinging sensation behind.

His hands landed on my waist before his mouth found the soft dip of my stomach. He bit down gently, a playful but dominant nip that felt like fire, spreading across my skin. His teeth grazed over the bruise he left behind.

He got back on his feet, before tilting my head back slightly. "You're going to feel me," he said, before sinking his teeth into the soft skin on my neck. A stinging pressure bloomed on my neck, but it was quickly replaced with a rhythmic suction that made my toes curl.

As he pulled back, his lips brushed against mine. "Everyone will know who you belong to tomorrow," he rasped against my skin.

"Kyren, stop," I breathed, though my hands dug into the muscle on his arms, instead of pushing him away.

"I told you I'd leave marks, Princess." He leaned down, his teeth grazing the mark, he'd just left on my neck. "I'm a man of my word."

"See you at practice," he smirked before leaving his room. I didn't move to pick up my shredded lingerie on his floor, I took the opportunity and ran out of his room, locking myself in my bedroom.

I was completely soaked, and throbbing with need. That was a close call. What the hell was wrong with me? Why would I ask him for sunscreen at midnight?

I will never follow Jia's advice again. I almost lost my virginity because of her. And the worst part was that I would have let him take my innocence.

He was turning me into something I'm not. I refused to become one of his booty calls. I refused to become like everyone else on campus, obsessed with Kyren Wolfe.

My hands balled into fists at my sides. I refused to let him win. I took a quick shower before going to bed.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I jumped out of bed and took a warm shower before getting ready for the day.

I applied some sunscreen to my skin and was instantly reminded of how I embarrassed myself the previous night.

I'm such a loser.

I pulled on my cheerleading uniform before doing my makeup to perfection. I blended some concealer into the hickeys on my skin, until they were completely covered up. I slipped on a pair of sneakers before pulling my hair into a neat ponytail.

I grabbed my bag before leaving my bedroom. The house was already empty, showing no signs of Kyren. He must have left already.

I left for cheer practice. I looked over my shoulders in fear as I headed towards the arena. My paranoia was getting the best of me. But the man who followed me that night might have been watching me.

I entered the locker room, and was instantly greeted by my teammates. I opened my locker before placing my bag inside.

"Come on, Captain. We gotta move. Coach Laurel is waiting for us." Jia uttered before pulling me along with her.

I spotted my dad standing on the other side of the arena. He waved at me and I smiled before waving back at him.

I could feel Kyren's eyes burning into my skin, but I refused to meet his gaze.

"Alright girls! Huddle up!" Coach Laurel yelled into the crisp air. "Spirit Day is coming up. I want you guys to look perfect out there. No mistakes. No distractions."

"Yes, Coach!" The squad replied in one voice.

"Now, let's go over the routine. Hailey, Jia, Brielle, and Tessa, I want that basket toss to look flawless." Coach pointedly stated and we all nodded in understanding.

"Music," I said and one of the girls rushed to turn the music on. I waited until everyone took their positions. "1, 2, 3, GO!"

We practiced the Spirit Day routine ten times in a row while coach slowly circled us like a huntress stalking its prey. She was big on flaws. One flaw could get you kicked off the squad.

I tiredly wiped the sweat off my forehead before taking a sip of water. Some of the girls were flat out, laying on the floor. "Hailey Jade! Get back in position. I didn't say you could take a break. Girls! Get up and get back in position!" Coach Laurel yelled before blowing into a whistle.

"Since when does she have a whistle?" Jia questioned in disbelief and Brie wheezed. I suppressed my laughter before starting the routine again.

Once we were done, our chests were heaving. We expectantly looked at Coach Laurel, all collectively hoping she would ease up on us.

A small smirk curved her lips. "That... was perfection."

The group erupted in relieved sighs and whispers.

Coach nodded at me before leaving the arena. I turned to face the girls. "That's a wrap for today." I started but before I could continue, shocked gasps filled the air.

"Hailey?" Brie uttered with a smirk on her lips. "Is that a hickey on your thigh?" She asked, pointing to my inner thigh. My hands instantly flew down to my leg.

My sweat was washing the concealer away.

I instinctively looked over at Kyren and a dark smirk curved the corner of his mouth. He averted his gaze from me before going back to his conversation with my dad.

I helplessly looked over at Jia and she protectively jumped in front of me. The girls spotted the marks on my neck and belly instantaneously.

"Right now, you're just amplifying his Ice King persona. The only person that's melting right now, is you." Brie chuckled before brushing past me.

The rest of the girls followed her into the room, their whispers filling the air.

"What happened last night?" Jia asked before pulling me into a comforting hug.

"I embarrassed myself, Jia. I planned on going into his room, pretending to be scared. But then I froze as soon as I saw him." I uttered as we made our way toward the locker room. "I put on some lingerie, went into his bedroom, and asked him for sunscreen. At midnight."

Jia started laughing and I just tiredly shook my head. I'd be laughing too if I was her.

Suddenly someone crashed into my shoulder from behind. My eyes widened when I saw Tessa storming into to the locker room.

"You think she's pissed?" I asked Jia who were now watching Tessa in shock.

"Definitely. Be careful, she might kill you in your sleep." Jia said, as a light frown rested on her forehead.

"She clearly has feelings for him." I stated, as we entered the locker room together.

"Who cares? Come on, I'll buy you coffee and some dessert." She promised before heading into the showers.

I went into the bathroom to check the marks on my skin but I was pulled behind a dark corner instead. My eyes widened when I found Kyren standing in front of me.

One of his hands reached out to cover my mouth. "Be quiet, Princess. You don't want us to get caught on day one, do you?"

He lowered his hand from my mouth before sliding it up my inner thigh.

Then it dawned on me. I had a say in this too! "I thought you had a strict NO DATING rule." My lips brushed against his, as he raked his hand higher up my leg, coming impossibly close to my aching heat.

"I do," he muttered before looking down at my lips.

"If you don't plan on breaking it, stop touching me."

He roughly turned me around, and my nipples hardened against the cold wall they were pressed up against. The hard ridge of his erection pressed into my ass, making me throb with need.

My defiance was turning him on. I did this to him. I bit into my bottom lip as he leaned down to my neck.

"I don't need to break the rule to break you, Princess." He whispered into my ear before roughly lifting my skirt up my thighs.

Kyren's hand slid up the back of my thigh. The cold wall bit into my cheek.

"You see what you do to me?" He growled, grinding his hard length against my ass. "You walk around in this little skirt, and think I'll play by your rules?"

His fingers hooked into the waistband of my skirt and panties. He dragged them down in one ruthless motion, and heat flooded my core.

"Kyren," I breathed, my voice trembling.

"No," he muttered, his lips at my ear. "You don't get to use my name like that. Not when you're this wet for me."

His other hand slipped between my legs from behind. A choked sound escaped me as his fingertips found my soaked flesh. He traced slow circles on my clit, and my back arched into him.

"So wet," he murmured, his voice thick with arousal. "All for me. Isn't that right, Princess?"

My head fell forward against the wall as he circled my clit with relentless pressure. "Yes, Kyren."

"I'm just getting started, Princess." He said, sliding a finger lower, dipping it inside my entrance, before sweeping my wetness back up to my clit.

"I'm going to fuck you so deep," he whispered, his words sending a fresh wave of pleasure through me. "I'm going to have you screaming into this wall. But first, you're going to come on my hand. Come on, Hailey. Let go for me."

His pace became punishing. Perfect. The tension built between my legs, and my hips began to move of their own accord, chasing his touch.

"That's it," he coaxed, his voice guttural. "Take what you need."

The orgasm broke over me, locking my muscles and stealing the air from my lungs. A soundless cry escaped my mouth as pleasure radiated out from my core.

Kyren held me through it, his hand working me gently until the last tremor subsided.

Before I could even process the aftermath, the sound of a heavy door swinging open echoed down the corridor.

Familiar footsteps approached us. Kyren froze. In a blur of motion, he yanked my skirt and panties back up. He smoothed my skirt down just as my father rounded the corner.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Kyren took a casual step back, putting some space between us. He ran a hand through his hair, and his expression shifted from predatory hunger to relaxed amusement.

"Coach," he said, his voice perfectly even. "Looking for someone?"

My dad's eyes scanned us, lingering for a half-second on my flushed face. "Hailey, the girls said you might be back here. Are you okay?"

"Fine!" My voice came out a pitch too high. I cleared my throat before forcing a smile. "I'm just catching my breath after practice."

Kyren shoved his hands in his pockets. "She was just telling me that the AC at our place stopped working."

Liar.

My father nodded slowly. He was becoming suspicious. "The janitors need to lock up. Kyren, hit the weight room. Hailey, get yourself something to eat."

"Yes, sir," we said in unison.

My dad shot us a final, assessing look, then turned and walked back the way he came.

The moment the door clicked shut, the tension snapped back. Thicker and hotter than before. Kyren's casual mask dropped. He closed the distance between us in one stride. "Don't hide what's mine again." He said, his thumb grazing the hickey on my neck.

He confidently strode out of the room, leaving me alone in the corridor. I rushed my way back into the locker room and took a quick shower. I was consumed by butterflies, the feel of his fingers pleasing me, lingered.

I pulled on a pair of flared pants paired with a black off-shoulder top. I slipped my feet into a pair of matching black heels. I did light makeup on my face before concealing the marks that Kyren left on my skin.

I loosened my inky black hair before brushing through the strands. I grabbed my purse before leaving the locker room alongside Jia and Brie.

"Where did you disappear to earlier?" Brie curiously questioned as we made our way to the cafeteria.

"Where do you think I went? I was hiding out of embarrassment." I snapped at her. "Why the hell would you expose me like that, in front of everyone?"

"This is all a game, Hails. And I'm playing to win." She smiled over at me.

"You're such a shitty friend. Asshole." I uttered in realization.

"Hailey, you agreed to this bet. I never forced you to do anything you didn't want to do. You calling me an asshole is extremely hypocritical." Brie gestured wildly as we entered the cafeteria.

"Most people would agree that you're an asshole," Jia added her ten cents.

"Stay out of this, Jia." Brie cut her off before locking her gaze on mine. "Betting on someone is crazy, Hailey. That makes you an even bigger asshole than I am." Brie said before going over to a table at the other end of the cafeteria.

"It's not that deep. Kyren is playing games too. There's no right or wrong party in this." I told Jia while nodding to myself.

"But what if it stops being a game? What if you both end up falling for each other?" Jia carefully questioned.

"I would never fall for someone as shallow as Kyren Wolfe. And as I said before, he's not my type. At all." I assured her before taking a seat at our table.

"He's everybody's type," Jia whispered under her breath. "What's your type anyway?" She asked, the challenge in her voice rising.

"Someone who would get me the moon if I asked him to. Someone who treats women with respect. Someone like my dad. He really loved my mom," I pointedly stated.

"And Kyren doesn't fit any of those standards?" She asked before running a hand through her hair.

"No. I don't think so." I whispered as more of the cheerleaders on our squad joined our table.

"Why do I feel like you're judging him?" She knowingly asked.

"I'm not. I'm just not interested in getting to know him." I huffed out.

"Because you don't want it to be him." She sighed. "You need to give him a genuine chance. Brie wants to see Kyren melt. She wants to see him fall in love with you. "Her actions may be a little questionable, but her heart is in the right place," Jia said before squeezing my hand in hers.

One of the girls on our squad handed me a medium soda, and I thanked her before taking a sip from the drink.

"No." I finally stated.

I didn't trust Brielle's motives. And Kyren... screw him and his NO Dating rule. He was the Ice King for a reason. He didn't fall in love. He didn't even date. I would only make a fool out of myself if I continued pursuing him. So my answer to both of them was no.

The temperature inside the cafeteria suddenly dropped. Curious gasps and whispers filled the room as Kyren walked through the doors. His arm was wrapped around a blonde's neck.

My jaw clenched at the sight. It hasn't even been an hour since he... since he touched me very intimately. And now he was flirting with some other girl.

A deep frown settled on my forehead as they approached our table. Why were they coming this way? Their table was on the opposite side of the cafeteria.

Kyren let the blonde go before coming over to where I was sitting. Jia stopped talking mid-sentence. The cafeteria dawned in silence.

He didn't whisper. He spoke in a low, gravelly tone that the people at the next table could definitely hear. "I thought I gave you an order, Princess."

I feigned innocence before confidently looking up at him. "I don't know what you're talking about, Kyren."

A smirk curved the corner of his mouth. Before I could move, he firmly gripped my chin. His thumb wiped the makeup from my skin in a downward stroke across my neck, exposing me to a wider audience.

The students surrounding us were already filming the scene. Jia was frozen beside me. And my public image was completely shattered.

"Now everyone knows who you belong to." He muttered. "From now on, you're nothing but one of my late-night distractions."

My cheeks flushed red as he left our table without another word. He wrapped his arm around the blonde again, and I was ready to explode.